September 10, 2009 – It is far too commonly assumed that the kitchens of great restaurants are run by men. It is true that many of our gastronomic masters are male; however, many female chefs are making their mark in Montréal. Take Restaurant Graziella on McGill Avenue as an example, where Chef-Owner Graziella Battista – formerly of Il Sole fame - ingeniously and elegantly takes Italian cuisine not only to new heights, but straight out of the stratosphere. Osso bucco, seared red tuna steak, scallops or beef carpaccio: in short, you’ll find here what dreams are made of.
Still in Italy, but more specifically, Rome, the Da Emma restaurant infuses the heart of Old Montréal with the aroma of its audaciously delicious cuisine. The exceptional culinary talent of Emma Risa earned her the prestigious Outstanding Woman of the Year award in 2004 from the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montréal. The restaurant itself garnered a Prix de design de Montréal (1999) for the ingenious transformation of Montréal’s first prison - dating back to 1842 – into an elegant Roman trattoria. A venerable feast for both eyes and palette!
Falafels, grilled Lebanese sausages and pomegranate molasses, fried pita and pine nuts: these are but a few of the tantalizing Mediterranean flavours that dominate the menu of Bazaar Anise, the star anise-coloured restaurant of Racha Bassoul. Renown in Québec culinary circles, this English-Lit grad didn’t originally intend to become a chef, but are we ever glad that she did! Her delectably fragrant and flavourful dishes – all reasonably priced - are as much a treat for the nose as they are for the taste buds.
Hailing from Serra de Santo António in Portugal, Owner-Chef Héléna Loureiro opened the doors to her restaurant, Portus Calle, on Saint-Laurent Boulevard in 2003. After studying hospitality management in Lisbon and then at the Institut de Tourisme et d’Hôtellerie du Québec upon her arrival in Montréal in 1988, this mother of two teenagers and former chef of Le Vintage restaurant decided to spread her wings and let her culinary creativity soar.
If tapas are what you seek, then look no farther than Tapeo, a remarkable tapas bar in Villeray. For nearly five years (already!), Marie-Fleur Saint-Pierre has enchanted the throngs of foodies who have crossed her doorway with her culinary ingenuity and intuition.
From the fine sand beaches and sparkling azure water of Saint Tropez where she studied hotel and restaurant management to Mansfield Street in Montréal, Cynthia Moreau’ s culinary artistry delights her patrons time and time again. It’s no wonder that Daniel Vézina, the Chef and soul of Laurie Raphaël in Québec City, entrusted his restaurant of the same name in Montréal to her leadership and expertise.
No gastronomical experience would be complete without dessert and chocolate is decidedly the perfect conclusion to any meal. The Fairmont le Reine Élizabeth understands this and as such has confided this great responsibility to Carole Proulx, Master Chocolatier and friend to the most discerning of chocoholics. She accepts this challenge with panache and passion, delivering divine truffles, fleur de sel caramels, and delectable cocoa and herb bouchées.
Restaurant Graziella
Restaurant Da Emma
Bazaar Anise
Restaurant Portus Calle
Tapeo
Laurie Raphaël (Montréal)
Fairmont Le Reine Elizabeth
